The living kitchen
Gathering place for today's families holds big opportunity for furniture
By Susan Pantaleo, ASID -- Furniture Today, December 21, 2008
Remember growing up in a kitchen that was loud and full of activity, with mom cooking, kids doing homework and neighbors dropping by for coffee? Those days aren't gone forever, because more and more Americans are rediscovering that the kitchen is truly the heart of the home. Of course, this is being done today with the latest technology and equipment, but the end result is one room that provides a warm gathering place for friends and family. Instead of the living room, call it the living kitchen.
When it comes to home improvements, kitchen remodeling is still the No. 1 way for homeowners to increase the value of their property. Even in this difficult economy, the decision to move ahead on a kitchen remodel is being made as a way improving instead of moving. The newest trend is including untraditional kitchen furniture to make this room perform as the most active area in the home.
Furnishing the kitchen allows you to be true to the architecture and style carried out in the other areas of the home. Cabinetmakers are working to make their cabinets look more like furniture, so why not just use furniture? Cabinets have limited style selection unless they are customized, which is costly. Even then, the choices are typically neutral because it is such a permanent investment. Statement furniture is the perfect way to inject more character and color into the room.
As the family moves back into the kitchen, there is a need for comfortable design that allows everyone to decompress. The room must supports activities other than cooking. Flat-screen TVs are becoming as common in kitchens as the proverbial sink. Areas where parents can supervise their children's use of the Internet and homework can be accomplished with good quality dining tables and chairs that feature comfortable upholstery.
Small-scale upholstered sofas add an unexpected charm to the room while providing comfort as the cook and crew decompress from the day. And case pieces often can provide more storage per linear foot than typical upper and lower kitchen cabinets.
Appliances and cooking work surfaces must first be assigned. From there, selecting the best furniture for each activity opens the way for more practical use of the space. The added advantage is that furniture is more versatile than built-in cabinets. And in the future, furniture can find new uses in other areas of the home or be taken along on a move. That added value is a good reason to creatively include furniture in any kitchen plan.
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